My Friend, Matty Molnar

My Friend, Matty Molnar

September 9, 1977 – September 15, 2005

Matty was my closest friend here at Mundelein Seminary. We’ve been through everything together and I couldn’t have asked for a better friend to travel with on this path to priesthood. Although I had heard of the famous Matty Molnar before becoming a seminarian, I actually met Matty for the first time on the day that we were both coming to Mundelein to be interviewed for acceptance into the seminary. We first talked when we got off the plane. I remember that Matty gave me a hug. We had never met, but he knew we were going to be brother seminarians and that meant I needed a hug. That was Matty.

Those who I was able to talk to while back in Kansas know that Matty’s passing has been very hard on me. I don’t make friends all that easily, certainly not as easily as Matty, and I have only a few close friends that are so important to me. Matty was definitely one of those people. On the surface we seemed very different to others, but we had a common core deep down that made us the best of friends. Matty was my only classmate from Kansas City in 2^nd theology. We would have been ordained deacons together in just about 2 years. Whenever I looked forward to ordination, one of the things that made me happiest was knowing that Matty would be there standing next to me. We made a great team. Looking ahead to ordination now leaves me a little sad knowing that someone who should be there won’t be.

This past week has really challenged me in my faith. We all profess every week that we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Until now perhaps this has been too much of a mere intellectual truth that I have accepted without question. Now, it’s not so much that I question the truth of it, but I have been wondering a lot about the “how” of resurrection and the communion of the saints. Specifically, I believe that Matty is alive, but what kind of relationship can I have with him now? Does he see everything? Is he able to know what I need and to help me? Does he experience the help of my prayers? Can he answer my prayers? Whenever I had a problem I always knew I could go down the hall to talk to Matty and I’d feel better. I’d like to know how that can continue through his intercession in heaven. I’d like to continue to help him through whatever prayers he might need. I also have questions about heaven in general. What does it mean to be a soul without a body? How can the souls in heaven be awaiting the resurrection of their bodies when there is no time in heaven? To answer some of these questions I’m trying two things. First, I bought Peter Kreeft’s book, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven” and, secondly, I’m going to talk to the person Matty considered “the smartest man alive,” Fr. Emery de Gaal. I’ll get back with you when I get it all figured out J

There’s so much more I could say, but for now I’ll close with a story my spiritual director in Kansas told me yesterday. I was telling her that I would find it helpful to have some concrete experience of Matty’s presence in heaven. She told me that she had attended 4 exorcisms this summer with the chief exorcist of Rome. The devil was possessing a woman and using her voice to talk his evil talk. The exorcist was apparently very good at commanding the devil and she said that he was able to force the devil to reveal things he didn’t really want to. At one point she said the exorcist asked the devil to reveal who was present in the room. The devil indicated several saints. At another time she said the exorcist called on various saints to be present in the room. She told me of a specific time when the exorcist called on John Paul II to be present. She said the devil just started screaming and convulsing the woman and was yelling “No, not that one. He’s wrecked so many of our plans.” The point of her story was that the spiritual world is real. Matty and the rest of the saints are all there, even if we don’t see them. I pray that Matty will always be there to assist me. Of course, where Matty is the Blessed Mother can’t be far away so I can be assured of her prayers as well. I need all the help I can get right now.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him.